Ottawa Nationals
| Ottawa Nationals | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Ottawa, Ontario |
| League | World Hockey Association |
| Operated | 1972–73 |
| Home arena | Ottawa Civic Centre |
| Franchise history | |
| 1972–1973 | Ottawa Nationals |
| 1973 playoffs | Ontario Nationals |
| 1973–1976 | Toronto Toros |
| 1976–1979 | Birmingham Bulls |
The Ottawa Nationals was a professional men's ice hockey team based out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada that played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) during the 1972–73 WHA season.
The WHA had originally announced a franchise to Doug Michel for "Ontario." Original plans called for the team to play at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. However, Michel couldn't get a suitable lease for the Gardens. Afterward, there was some expectation that Hamilton would be the team's home, but the franchise was eventually placed in Ottawa. Nick Trbovich became majority owner before the season began, with Michel running hockey operations.
The Nationals were coached by Billy Harris and led on the ice by Wayne Carleton, who scored 42 goals and 92 points during the season. The Ottawa Nationals hosted the first game in the WHA, held on October 11, 1972, when they played as the home team at the Civic Centre versus the Edmonton Oilers, then known as the Alberta Oilers. The Oilers defeated the Nationals 7-4.
Their home ice was the Ottawa Civic Centre, but the team was a flop at the box office, averaging about 3,000 fans per game. Before the season ended, the City of Ottawa demanded a payment of $100,000 to secure dates for the following season. Rather than agree to this demand, the Nationals opted to move elsewhere for the next season and play its playoff dates in Toronto. During this playoff series, the team was referred to as the Ontario Nationals. After the end of the season, the team was sold to John F. Bassett and permanently moved to Toronto as the Toronto Toros.
The last Ottawa Nationals player active in North American major professional hockey was Mike Amodeo, who retired from the NHL after the 1979-80 season, which was his only season in the NHL.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1972–73 | 78 | 35 | 39 | 4 | 74 | 279 | 301 | 1067 | 4th, Eastern | Lost Quarter-final (Whalers) |